Sparta Rock (Rockford, MI) this year successfully defended their title as the High School Girls champions at the Lakefront 7s.
Sparta Rock started the day well with 3 wins from 3 attempts in pool play vs. Chargers (Fort Wayne, IN), Cobras (New Lenox, IL) and Hamilton (Sussex, WI). But by their own high standards, perhaps they under-performed a little on offense.
But by the time they reached the semi-finals, Sparta Rock picked up the pace of scoring. They cruised past Grandville (Grand Rapids, MI) 43-5.
In the other semi-final, Hamilton met the Hawkettes (Des Moines, IA).
The Hawkettes have four Lakefront 7s championships under their belt, including their last visit to Milwaukee in 2019, and might have been considered favorites in the contest. But Hamilton has had a strong season in 15s play, having just placed in the top 10 single-school teams in the country.
Not surprisingly, the match was tight throughout, ending in a 12-10 win for Hamilton. Although there was some disagreement as to whether a Hawkettes conversion kick has been missed by the officials, the scoreline stood and Hamilton advanced to the final.
But Sparta Rock’s confidence had been building all day. In the final, they were stingy on defense while prolific on the scoreboard. With a final score of 36-5, Sparta Rock are back-to-back champions who look to be building a legacy at the Lakefront 7s.
Playoffs
Pool play standings
Full match results
